After the 11 September attacks in the United States, the US began a new war in Afghanistan, helped by the Islamic rebel Northern Alliance, and overthrew the Taliban after a few months. But lawlessness persisted in areas not controlled by the new regime and the new occupiers came under attack. NATO took control on 11 August 2003 of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which involves 37 countries and aims to extend the authority of the central government and help rebuild the country. The situation deteriorated in 2005 and the Taliban, with the help of foreign volunteers, reestablished themselves. Nearly 4,000 people were killed in 2006 and two-thirds of the population of Kabul were made homeless.

Afghanistan - Taliban

The Taliban are Sunni Islamic fundamentalists who appeared in Afghanistan in October 1994 with the goal of restoring Islamic morals and justice, based on divine law as interpreted and enforced by them.

- 5/2005/24Tolo TV yields to pressure and sacks him, saying his personality does not correspond to the station’s principles.
- 3/2005/13The religious Council of Ulemas urges government to shut down "immoral and anti-Islamic" programmes.
Former presenter on privately-owned station Tolo TV of a music programme called "Hop," greatly criticised by hardliners as anti-Islamic.
His liberal life-style was strongly criticised by hardliners.